Stopgap Funding For U.S. Government: Congressional Pro And Cons

Three of the Hudson Valley elected representatives have very different opinions about the third temporary funding bill that Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed Friday. It will prevent a government shutdown for four weeks while Congress continues to try to pass an actual budget.

The “Continuing Resolution,” the third short-term extension of this fiscal year, funds the government through Jan. 19. The House passed the package by a vote of 231-188.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) voted against the year-end spending bill.

“This short-term funding bill is just another example of Congress failing to do its job," he said. "We have a lot of work left to do this year – not least of which is working out a long-term solution for 800,000 Dreamers who may be celebrating their last Christmas in the only country they’ve ever known. Republican leaders in Congress should push back the holiday recess and hammer this stuff out now. People in the Hudson Valley know that sometimes you have to work long hours to meet deadlines around the holidays. Congress shouldn’t be any different.”

Rep. John Faso (NY-19) disagreed. He voted for the four-week spending bill and blamed Democrats for all of the problems.

“The short-term package voted on today is necessary, but disappointing in that critical issues that should have been completed by the end of the year are being delayed until January. It is important to note that the House has passed all 12 appropriations bills prior to the October 1 deadline, but the US Senate hasn’t passed a single appropriations measure due to failure of Senate Democrats to permit debate on appropriations. Senate rules require 60 votes in order to take up legislation and due to such obstruction, none of the appropriations measures have even cleared committee in the Senate.

“Of particular concern is failure of Democrats to adopt a defense appropriations bill which has a pay raise for the troops and increased funding for training and readiness. This latter issue is particularly important given the serious accidents occurring among Navy ships in Asia over the last few months.

“In addition, we need a long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and community health center funding, yet Democrats in the Senate continue to block consideration of a bill the House passed over a month ago.

“Finally, I’m disappointed that the DACA program was not addressed. However, I am encouraged that there is a building bipartisan consensus that DACA will be addressed in January. I am hoping that when Congress returns in January, legislation providing for DACA people and border security can be enacted.”

Faso highlighted several provisions in the Continuing Resolution, some of which were included in the continuing resolution and some which were not.

Included:

• $4 billion appropriation to counter the threat from North Korea.
• $700 million to repair damaged U.S. Navy ships.

Not included:

• Long-term extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Long-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
• Long-term extension of the VA Choice Program.
• Legislative fix to address the DACA program.

Rep. Nita Lowey (NY-17), who is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, took special exception to the money for the Pentagon that Faso highlighted. She called it an irresponsible end run around the GOP's own spending caps, which they made law in 2011.

Lowey took to the floor of the House to deliver a statement:

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this epic failure of governing.

“Nearly three months into the fiscal year, the Republican majority is advancing its third temporary Continuing Resolution with no foreseeable path forward on enacting full-year Appropriations and no evident urgency to address priorities that are critical to American families and communities.

“Completely preoccupied with showering tax breaks on corporations and the wealthiest Americans, the majority has failed to clear the extremely low bar of charting a course to keep the government open and meet deadlines they have set for themselves.

“In short, the Republican majority has made a complete mess of the very basics of governing. Now they want Democrats to bail them out by carrying a bill that neglects our priorities.

“This Continuing Resolution should include the bipartisan DREAM Act, protecting from deportation young people who were brought to this country as small children and only know the United States as home. But this bill tells those facing deportation that their plight is not our concern.

“It should include a bipartisan reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, providing long-term certainty for 9 million children and families who depend on the program. Instead, this bill tells children and families their medical needs are not our priority.

“It should include an agreement to raise caps for defense and nondefense spending with parity, so that Appropriators can get to work on a full-year spending package that keeps America secure and prosperous. Instead, this bill tries to make an end run around solely the defense cap by slipping in nearly $5 billion in new spending for the Pentagon.

“And it should not clean up the mess the majority made triggering automatic reductions to Medicare because of their deficit-busting tax bill.

“The majority wants to pass this bill and go home for the holidays, somehow content with its performance on behalf of the Americans they represent.

“In every sense, this bill fails to live up to our responsibilities as legislators and as representatives. Given these failures, I urge a no vote.”

SEE:

President Trump Signs Tax Bill, Spending Resolution

PHOTO/ U.S. Capitol Visitors Center